Does a good night’s sleep improve problem-solving?

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The idea of “sleeping on a problem” isn’t just an old saying, science suggests there’s some truth to it. During sleep, the brain consolidates memories, processes emotions, and strengthens connections between ideas, which can help you approach challenges with a fresh perspective. While sleep won’t magically solve complex issues on its own, a good night’s rest can improve creativity, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, making it easier to find solutions the next day.

Source

Sjøgård M, Mylonas D, Baxter B, et al. Increased Sleep Spindles in Regions Engaged during Motor Learning Predict Memory Consolidation. J Neurosci. 2025;45(34):e0381252025. Published 2025 Aug 20. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0381-25.2025

Additional Reading

https://time.com/7308247/sleep-problem-solving-decision-making/

https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/10/have-a-vexing-problem-sleep-on-it

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sleep-to-solve-a-problem-202105242463